Liquid-measuring apparatus.



J. w. GAMBLE. LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I3, 912- Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

WITNESSES A TTORNE Y :rERs ca. Pucraumo" WASHING Iran STATES PATENTGFFIQE.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To'JosEPH s. I

LOVERING,WIIART01\T, WILLIAM S...I-IALLOWELL, AND MEN '0. JoNEs, ALL or,

PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANiA, DOING BUSINESS AS BOILER WORKS.

utilizing flow measuring apparatus of a kind a in which an alr or vaporspace must be maintained within the apparatus in the measurement of aliquid admitted to and discharged from the apparatus under pressure. Forinstance, the invention is well adapted for use I in measuring boilerfeed waterby means of weir measuring apparatus interposed between theboiler feed pump and the boiler.

In carrying out my invention, I inclose the weir or other measuringapparatus employed in a housing having a valved outlet for the liquidmeasured, and provide means for automatically opening and closing thisoutlet as the liquid level in the storage space at the outlet side ofthe weir or other measuring apparatus rises above and falls to apredetermined minimum, and provide means for supplying to the housingair or other gaseous fiuid under a pressure exceeding but varying withthe pressure in the delivery pipe at the outlet side of the valveconnecting it to the housing. For instance, in the case of a boiler feedwater supply svstem,' I may maintain an air pressure in the upperportion of the weir chamber exceedingthe' maximum pressure in the boilerto which the water measured is fed by a suitable differential. Thepressure differential maintained may vary with different conditions ofuse. To accomplish'this, I may connect the housing to a suitable sourceof compressed air by automatic provisions adapted to maintain a constantand definite excess of the pressure in the housing over that in theboiler as the latter pressure varies.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed July 13, 1912.

sectional elevation of an automatic FIRM 0F HARRISON SAFETY mourn-MESURING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

Serial No. 709,193. a

and forming a part of this specification. Eor a better understanding ofthe invent on, however, and of the advantages possessed by it, referenceshould behadto the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in whichI have illustrated and described forms in which my invention maybeembodied. 7

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation partiallybroken away and in section of one form of apparatus embodying myinvention; and Fig. 2 is a valve mechanism employed.

As shown in Fig. 1,A represents a housing divided into inlet andoutlet-compartments A and A by the weir B which is formed with one ormore overflow notches or orifices B at its upper edge. The rate of flowof the liquid over the weir may be indic'ated, recorded or integratedand registered in various known ways. As conven tionally illustrated,the float J on the supply side of the weirB is arranged to operate arecording mechanism located within the casing K secured to the upperside of the housing A. \Vater is passed to the compartment A through thesupply pipe C from a boiler feed pump D, and the measured water passesout of the weir chamber through the pipe E which opens from the lowerend of compartment A and may run to, and discharge in, a boiler or otherreceptacle under pressure. The How through the pipe E is controlled by avalve F which may be of any usual or suitable form but is preferablybalanced. A float G opens and closes the valve F as the water level inthe compartment A rises above and falls to a predetermined minimum,which may be that indicated by the line X. The float G is connected bythe arm Gto a rock shaft G and an arm G secured to the rock shaft Gexternally of the housing A, is connected to and operates the stem ofthe valveF.- I-I represents a conduit connecting the upper end of thehousing A to a source,'such as the compressed air reservoir I, of air orother gas or vapor under a pressure exceeding that prevailing in thepipe E on the outlet side of the valve F by an amount sufficient toforce liquid out of the housing ceeding that at whichiwater is pumpedinto the housing A through pipe C when the valve F is open. A checkvalve H- may be employed to prevent a back flow through the pipe H., v a

To vary the pressure in the vapor space within the housing A as thepressure in the delivery pipe E varies, communication between thereservoir I and the housing A is controlled'by the valve N in the pipeH. As shown, the valve N comprises a casing formed with inlet and outletchambers N and N respectively, separated by ports controlled by themovable double valve member N The valve member N is provided at itsunder side with a stem portion N* which is connected to a diaphragm 0located within a diaphragm chamber 0. The latter is secured to thecasing of the valve N and opens abovethe diaphragm O to the outletchamber N of the valve N. The portion of the diaphragm chamber below thediaphragm O is connected by the pipe 0 to the delivery pipe E at theoutlet side of the float operated valve F. With this arrangement, thepressure in the delivery pipe E at the outlet side of the valve F actsagainst the diaphragm O in a direction tending to open the valve N,

and the pressure in the outlet chamber of the valve casing, which, ofcourse is the pressure in the vapor space of the housing A, acts on theupper side of the diaphragm O .in a direction tending to close the valveN. To create the desired differential between the pressures at theoutlet side of the delivery valve F and in the housing A, the valvemember N is provided with an upper stem eX tension N which passesthrough a stufiing box N and has its upper end threaderlto receive anadjusting nut P. Between the adjusting nut P and the stuiiing box N isinterposed a spring Q, which exerts an additional force in the valveopening direction on the valve member N. The tension of this spring maybe adjusted by rotating the nut P.

WVith the arrangement described, it will be apparent that the valve Nand its operating mechanism will tend to maintain an air pressure in thevapor space of the housing A which will vary with the boiler pressure,but will exceed the latter by a definite amount fixed by the tensionofthe spring. With this arrangement it may be necessary to provide arestricted leakage outlet A from the vapor space of'the housing A sothat the pressure in the vapor space may quickly fall Copies of thispatent may be obtained for to the required extent upon a decrease in theboiler pressure.

In the apparatus shown, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art,the pressure 'maintained inthe vapor space of the housing A will beeffective to force water out of the compartment A through the pipe Ewhenever the valve F is open, and this valve opens automaticallywhenever the liquid level rises above the line X to thereby prevent anaccumulation of water in the housing automatically asby any of the wellknown forms of boiler feed governors.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I haveillustrated and dcscribed the best form of my invention now known to meit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be madein the form of the apparatus'disclosed without departing from the spiritof my invention, and that under some conditions certain features of myinvention may be used with advantage without a corresponding use ofother features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

Liquid measuring apparatus comprising in combination a housing closed tothe atmosphere through which the liquid measured flows, a delivery pipeleading from said housing. a valve controlling the discharge from saidhousing through said deliverypipe, means responsive to the rise and fallof the liquid level in said housing for opening and closing said valveas said level rises above and falls to a predetermined height, means formaintaining within an upper portion of said housing a gaseous fluidpressure exceeding, but varying with, that in the delivery pipe at theoutlet side of said valve, and means for forcing liquid into saidchamber against the fluid pressure maintained therein.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. O.

